Men’s Basketball Pounds Tennessee-Martin – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/14/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 14, 1998
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Box Score | Quotes and Notes%^$
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By RUSTY MILLER%^$
AP Sports Writer%^$
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Michael Redd scored 22 points and Boban Savovic came%^$off the bench to score 16 as Ohio State beat Tennessee-Martin 92-56 Monday%^$night to give coach Jim O’Brien his 250th career victory.%^$
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O’Brien is 15-24 in his second season with the Buckeyes. He was 67-51 at St.%^$Bonaventure and 168-166 at Boston College and is now 250-241 in 17 seasons as a%^$college head coach.%^$
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It was the fourth time Ohio State (7-2) had won by at least 27 points this%^$season. The other victims, all at home, were Oakland (89-61), Army (86-45) and%^$Tennessee Tech (78-51).%^$
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The loss was the second in a row for Tennessee-Martin (3-6), which is%^$playing its first full season in Division I after an eight-year transition from%^$Division II.%^$
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Jason Singleton added 12 points and Jon Sanderson 10 for Ohio State.%^$
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Ryan DeMichael matched his career high with 26 points for Tennessee-Martin.%^$
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After the first 7 minutes, the Skyhawks trailed just 11-7. They cut an early%^$8-0 deficit to four points on DeMichael’s bank shot at the 13:28 mark.%^$
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That was shortlived, however, as Ohio State ran off the next 19 points.%^$Tennessee-Martin was 0-2 from the field with five turnovers until Nick DeVilder%^$hit a 15-footer jumper at the 8:46 mark.%^$
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Over that same 4:42 span, the Buckeyes caught fire. They hit 7-of-8 shots,%^$including the final six in a row – while the Skyhawks weren’t even attempting a%^$shot because of turnovers.%^$
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The Buckeyes were on top 51-24 at halftime and led by as many as 38 points%^$in the second half.%^$
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Tennessee-Martin was hurt by the absence of injured starters Joe Crumby and%^$Ben Corley. Ohio State backup guard Neshaun Coleman didn’t dress after%^$spraining his right knee in the Buckeyes’ loss 64-63 loss to Toledo on Dec. 5.%^$
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Ohio State had lost its last two games – both on the road – after winning%^$six in a row to open its new Value City Arena.
